“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”- Winston Churchill
Assisstive Technology is a term that refers to devices that individuals can use to help them do something. In essence they assist, so they help the person using the device to do something they could not do otherwise.
Listed below are Assisstive Technology devices we use in class. This is not an all-inclusive list, but gives you an idea about what we use. My hope is that by reading this list and learning about some different devices you can use this as a resource list to see what you would like for your child to have at home.
- Picture Schedule: this helps the child to see what to do when. Just like in a planner we might use which tells us the order of things that we do, picture schedules are meant to be directions to the child as to what they’re supposed to be doing.
- Weighted Spoon: This spoon is much like the ones we have at home except for one thing: this spoon is weighted in the handle. This helps the student who has a hard time with feeding himself. This spoon helps the child to feel how heavy the spoon is, telling them more information about how high they need to raise their arm to get the food into their mouth. Using this spoon helps the student to spill less on themselves or somewhere else.
- Dish: A certain type of dish has been created where one side of the dish has a rounded edge that curls up about and inch or two high. This means that instead of just a flat plate, the student has an edge to scoop up their food. This helps the student to get their food off their plate and into their mouth. These type of food related tools are important because eating is something that everyone does every day. When students can feed themselves they feel independent and can do more things on their own.
- Lap Bags: These are bags that would cover the width of the childs lap. This large bean bag acts as a weight, which is very comforting and stabilizing to the child. Some children feel anxious and need to move or stimulate themselves. This bag is textured and has pockets so that students can keep their hands busy. For some children, this enables them to pay attention because their hands are busy doing something while they participate in learning.
- Weighted Vest : This additional piece of clothing acts much like the lap bag, but allows the child to move and play. This is a mobile weight device that stimulates the young child with more weight, telling their brain and nervous system where they are. Some children need this sensory device because their nervous system does not pick up all the signals that we do. When a child gets anxious or happy they need this vest to signal to their nerve system what’s going on and where they’re at. When children do not have this device, the time it takes for them to check back in and be aware of themselves and their surroundings takes more time and usually involves very high emotions.